Stardate: 70915:0845
Title: Genetic Selection
Author: Lieutenant Andrew Keller
Time: Current
Scene: USS Relentless


Abby had ordered both Duncan and Andrew to report to sickbay, but apart from Duncan’s few bruises, both men were reported in good health. Tests had shown both had some radiation exposure, but either by good fortune or whatever each man had in their veins, the Relentless’ doctors quickly treated it. Andrew had been signed off to recommence duty, but Duncan was detained on Doctor’s orders for ‘observation’.

Andrew returned to the bridge just in time to see Francis of the Life Alliance Command appear on the viewscreen.

"Captain Winters. We have made contact with Earth and we shall be arriving shortly," he said. "We trust you will not try to escape us. As a gesture of faith, despite your misdeeds and deceptions we will lower our interference matrix but you must follow the co-ordinates we are relaying to your communications station. Be warned, that any attempt to escape will be met with force."

The viewscreen clicked off, and the tactical officer reported that two vessels had dropped in behind the Relentless while two others took up positions on each side.

"They’re corralling us in," Andrew said as he crossed to the helm position. "They’re making sure we can’t escape."

"We’ll play along for now," Abby replied. "Stay on the course and speed they’ve allotted us."

"Aye, Ma’am," Andrew replied. He slid behind the helm panel and steered the Relentless onto the course given by Francis.

"Radiation levels are dropping and we’ve got sensors back," Maxine reported. "We still can’t scan their ships though. They must still have some kind of dampening field in place other than the theta radiation."

"Keep trying to break through," Abby ordered. "We need to find out all we can about them." The data they had obtained from the away-team mission wouldn’t be enough, she thought.

~

A short while later, the convoy of Life Alliance Command vessels and the USS Relentless entered what they knew as the Sol system and approached the planet known as Earth. As they made their way through the system, the communications channel chirped.

"Captain, we’re being hailed. It’s not Francis, it’s coming from the third planet. It’s Earth if this is our Solar System."

"On screen," Abby replied.

The view-screen came into life, emblazoned with the visage of an elderly man. He was sat down and was dressed in robes of an almost sterile-white, which closely matched his short beard and the tuft of hair on his head.

"Greetings, Captain Winters," he said. "I am Patriarch Michael."

"Greetings to you Patriarch Michael," Abby replied. "Might I ask why we have been brought to your planet?"

"All in good time, Captain," Michael replied.

A second man, a little younger-looking than Michael appeared on the view-screen and whispered into Michael’s ear.

"Captain, we wish to extend our hospitality to you and some of your crew. Will you comply?"

It was the matter-of-fact way in which he said it that put Abby more on guard. It did not sound a sincere request.

"Patriarch Michael, we would be honoured to have you and your entourage visit our vessel instead. I assure you, we mean no harm."

Michael shook his head.

"I’m afraid I must insist on your company. We have already selected those of you that will join us." He gave a nod to the second man.

Instantly, the bridge glowed with a searing white light, blinding all on the bridge. After a few seconds the light began to fade.

~

"What in God’s name happened?" Andrew asked, turning in his chair. He caught his breath as he saw the vast majority of the bridge crew were gone: Captain Winters, Commander Jessop, Lieutenant Jenna, Lieutenant Suliamain, Ensign Maloney had all vanished along with others. Andrew quickly realised that of all the bridge crew that had been ‘taken’, all were human.

Only himself, Ensign Val and Lieutenant Levi were left on the bridge.

Then, he remembered what Dr Talbot had told him in sickbay about the Life Command Alliance and their ethic breeding principle, which Duncan substantiated through his own account on the Life Alliance Command vessel upon discovery of his nanoprobes.

"Andrew, what happened?" Yoni asked.

"I’ve no idea, but they’ve got the Captain."

The communication channel opened.

[Heyward to bridge. What just happened?]

"Keller here. We don’t know. Most of the bridge crew are gone."

"I’m in Sickbay," Duncan answered. "All the medics are gone, Doctors Talbot and Proctor, most of the nurses and orderlies too, all gone. There was a bright light, then they vanished."

"You better get up here, Duncan." Andrew replied. "The Captain, Commander Jessop, Lieutenant Jenna, they’re all gone too."

Suddenly, the ship shook violently and Andrew was thrown to the ground.

"Yoni, what’s going on?" he shouted. Yoni scrambled to his feet and frantically tried to gather data on what had just happened.

"Some sort of repulsion beam," he said finally. "We’ve been thrown away from the planet like we were in some sort of sling-shot."

After a few moments the ship came to a halt and Yoni began trying to ascertain where they had ended up. Duncan appeared moments later as reports came in from across the ship. From captain to cadet, in all departments, on all decks every human had been removed from the ship. Only those of alien or mixed origin remained, or those deemed not to be one hundred percent.

Once the last of the reports had come in and a roll call of the remaining crew had taken place, Duncan turned to Andrew.

"I guess that makes you Captain then," he said. "What do we do?"


===================
Lieutenant Andrew Keller
Chief Conn Officer
USS Relentless
NCC-11966
===================